Ick!!!

Rob_Spade · Post by **Rob_Spade** » 12 Aug 2003, 21:25

Well. I have managed to get Ick into my cat tank by way of a new addition that had it.

I'm to frustrated to think now so Iâ??m going to ask why Iâ??m noticing that my Arius seemani's are looking far worse off than my other critters in the tank.
I mean. All are showing symptoms but there really bad.
Would anyone know why that would be?

Post by **Silurus** » 12 Aug 2003, 22:31

Probably because they are primarily marine fish that would be more vulnerable to freshwater pathogens like ich. The freshwater cats would be more tolerant.

Post by **Barbie** » 12 Aug 2003, 23:46

Arius are much healthier when kept in brackish conditions. They also aren't going to tolerate medication as well as some fish do. Methylene blue, formaline, and malachite green are the usual medications you'll find for treating ich, and all are going to wreak havoc with scaleless fish. If your other fish can stand it, I'd definitely recommend increasing the temperature to 84 degrees, doing careful 30% water changes daily with a good gravel vac'ing and add a teaspoon of salt per 1 gallon of tank water, every day, for 3 days. It sounds excessive, but I have used that method to treat everything from albino ancistrus, to clown loaches, and tetras with good success. Hope that helps.

And obviously we don't need to remind you why a good quarantine period can save you a TON of headaches and lost fish, do we?

Barbie

Rob_Spade · Post by **Rob_Spade** » 13 Aug 2003, 19:45

I know. I'm regretting that I did not quarantine that fish today as Ick claimed the lives of my two favorite pictus. Strangely they did not seem to be showing symptoms as much as the other fish in the tank, but they are small in comparison to my other fish so it probably effected them the most.

Rob_Spade · Post by **Rob_Spade** » 13 Aug 2003, 19:55

Also, how will Those Arius seemani cope with a copper based medication, are they copper tolerant?

Post by **Silurus** » 13 Aug 2003, 20:04

No, they are not. You have to use something like a third of the usual dosage.

Rob_Spade · Post by **Rob_Spade** » 13 Aug 2003, 21:13

What would be the best medication to use in this case then?

Post by **Silurus** » 13 Aug 2003, 21:19

Check with your LFS. There should be commercial anti-ich medications available. Most of these contain a mixture of malachite green and formalin, which should be OK for use with your fish, as long as you use half the normal recommended dosage.